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International Vaccines Task Force (IVTF) (2018) C1

Robust clinical research capacity in low- and middle-income countries is key to stemming the spread of epidemics, according to a new report from the International Vaccines Task Force (IVTF). The report lays out how to develop the political support, financing and coordination required to build this c... more

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Africa’s Health Financing in a New Era

Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) (2025) CC

Africa’s health sector is facing an unprecedented financing crisis, driven by a sharp decline of 70% in Official Development Assistance (ODA) from 2021 to 2025 and deep-rooted structural vulnerabilities. This collapse is placing immense pressure on Africa’s already fragile health systems as ODA ...is seen as the backbone of critical health programs: pandemic preparedness, maternal and child health services, disease control programs are all at risk, threatening Sustainable Development Goal 3 and Universal Health Coverage. Compounding this is Africa’s spiraling debt, with countries expected to service USD 81 billion by 2025—surpassing anticipated external financing inflows—further eroding fiscal space for health investments. Level of domestic resources is low. TThe Abuja Declaration of 2001, a pivotal commitment made by African Union (AU) member states, aimed to reverse this trend by pledging to allocate at least 15% of national budgets to the health sector. However, more than two decades later, only three countries—Rwanda, Botswana, and Cabo Verde—have consistently met or exceeded this target (WHO, 2023). In contrast, over 30 AU member states remain well below the 10% benchmark, with some allocating as little as 5–7% of their national budgets to health. In addition, only 16 (29%) of African countries currently have updated versions of National Health Development Plan (NHDP) supported by a National Health Financing Plan (NHFP). These two documents play a critical role in driving internal resource mobilisation. At the same time, public health emergencies are surging, rising 41%—from 152 in 2022 to 213 in 2024—exposing severe under-resourcing of health infrastructure and workforce. Recurring outbreaks (Mpox, Ebola, cholera, measles, Marburg…) alongside effects of climate change and humanitarian crises in Eastern DRC, the Sahel, and Sudan, are overwhelming systems stretched by chronic underfunding. The situation is worsened by Africa’s heavy dependency with over 90% of vaccines, medicines, and diagnostics being externally sourced—leaving countries vulnerable to global supply chain shocks. Health worker shortages persist, with only 2.3 professionals per 1,000 people (below the WHO’s recommended 4.45), and fewer than 30% of systems are digitized, undermining disease surveillance and early warning. Without decisive action, Africa CDC projects the continent could reverse two decades of health progress, face 2 to 4 million additional preventable deaths annually, and a heightened risk of a pandemic emerging from within. Furthermore, 39 million more Africans could be pushed into poverty by 2030 due to intertwined health and economic shocks. This is not just a sectoral crisis—it is an existential threat to Africa’s political, social, and economic resilience, and global stability. In response, African leaders, under Africa CDC’s stewardship, are advancing a comprehensive three-pillar strategy centered on domestic resource mobilization, innovative financing, and blended finance. more

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Banking on health: the surging pandemic of health financialization

Dentico N. Society for International Development (SID) (2023) CC

In the last three decades, health financialization has surged in several creative ways, yet this growing phenomenon remains surprisingly unknown, and neglected, in the global health arena. Financialization in the health domain could be described as the uncontrolled expansion of finance along vari... more

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International Development Association Project Paper on a proposed additional grant to the DRC

The World Bank (2016) C2

Project Paper to provide an additional grant for: Human Development Systems Strengthening Project (HDSSP)(P145965, H9360)

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Climate-smar agriculture case studies

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations FAO (2021) CC

Projects from around the world

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Burden sharing or burden shifting? - HIV and TB

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) (2019) C1

MSF provides treatment for HIV and tuberculosis (TB) in more than 20 countries around the world. The report Burden sharing or burden shifting? How the HIV/TB response is being derailed examines the situation in nine countries where MSF runs programmes: Central African Republic, Democratic Republic ... more

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Global Strategy for Women's, Children's and Adolescents' Health, 2016-2030
recommended

Flavia Bustreo, Shyama Kuruvilla, Marleen Temmerman et al Every Woman Every Child (2015) C_WHO

The new Global Strategy aims to achieve the highest attainable standard of health for all women, children and adolescents, transform the future and ensure that every newborn, mother and child not only survives, but thrives.

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Philanthropic Power and Development. Who shapes the agenda?

Jens Martens and Karolin Seitz Bischöfliches Hilfswerk MISEREOR, Brot für die Welt, Global Policy Forum (2015) C2

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The cost of austerity: The toll of IMF conditionalities on access to health in Zambia

Make Way, Wemos (2024) CC

Zambia is facing a severe economic crisis marked by high inflation, increasing poverty and a heavy debt burden that is straining both its fiscal stability and progress in health outcomes. By 2020, the country's external debt reached United States dollars (USD) 12.7 billion, representing 108% of the ... more

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Start with Her: UNFPA Strategy for Reproductive, Maternal and Newborn Health and Well-Being 2025–2030

United Nations Population Fund UNFPA (2025) CC

Nearly 800 women die every day from preventable maternal causes, and in 2022 alone, an estimated 2.3 million newborns died. For every maternal death, countless more women endure life-altering injuries, infections, and disabilities related to childbirth. Maternal deaths are concentrated in the poo... more

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Scale-up of severe wasting management within the health system: A stakeholder perspective on current progress

Emergency Nutrition Network ENN (2021) CC

A wide range of potential enablers and barriers were identified for influencing progress for the scale-up of severe wasting services within national health systems. Findings were categorised according to the six pillars of WHO’s health system strengthening framework.

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Sustaining Effective Coverage for HIV, Tuberculosis, and Malaria in the Context of Transition in Kenya

Chaitkin, Michael; O’Connell, Meghan Results for Development (R4D) (2017) C1

The report explores strategies for sustaining the country’s responses to the three diseases and eventually transitioning away from external funding and programmatic support. It takes stock of Kenya’s health financing landscape and identifies opportunities and challenges for sustaining effective ... more

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Time is running out

UN Children's Fund UNICEF (2019) CC

Technical Note on Antimicrobial Resistance This document reflects UNICEF’s response to the growing global threat of AMR to child survival, growth and development. It identifies UNICEF’s AMR-specific and AMR-sensitive actions in reducing infections, promoting access to and optimal use of antimic... more

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Kenya reproduvtive, newborn, child and adolescent health (RMNCAH) Investment framework

Ministry of Health, Government of Kenya (2016) C2

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Resettlement Policy Framework For Uganda Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, and Child Health Improvement Project
recommended

Ministry of Health Uganda (2016) C1

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The link between the West African Ebola outbreak and health systems in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone: a systematic review

Haitham Shoman, Emilie Karafillakis and Salman Rawaf (2017) CC

Shoman et al. Globalization and Health (2017) 13:1 DOI 10.1186/s12992-016-0224-2

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UNICEF’s Strategy for Health (2016-2030)

UNICEF Programme Division (2015)

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Tracking Japan’s development assistance for health, 2012–2016

Nomura, S.; H. Sakamoto; M. K. Sugai et al. Globalization and Health (2020) CC

: Development assistance for health (DAH) is one of the most important means for Japan to promote diplomacy with developing countries and contribute to the international community. This study, for the first time, estimated the gross disbursement of Japan’s DAH from 2012 to 2016 and clarified its... more

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Universal Health Coverage Health Advocacy Guide

UHC2030 (2018) C1

A guide to promote health systems strengthening to achieve universal health coverage.

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National Family Planning Costed Implemetation Plan 2017-2020

Ministry of Health, Kenya Ministry of health (2017) C1

Global Strategy for Women's, Children's and Adolescents' Health, 2016-2030 recommended

Resettlement Policy Framework For Uganda Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, and Child Health Improvement Project recommended

Global Strategy for Women's, Children's and Adolescents' Health, 2016-2030
recommended

Resettlement Policy Framework For Uganda Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, and Child Health Improvement Project
recommended